A high court judge today gave doctors the go ahead for a potential lifesaving operation on a seven year old cancer sufferer against the wishes of his mother.

Neon Roberts has a brain tumour and surgeons wanted to
remove a one centimetre piece of the tumour left in his brain from a previous
operation.

One of Britain’s leading paediatric oncologists, Dr A, said
there was a serious risk that the tumour could spread if it was not removed.

But Neon’s mother Sally – who has already opposed
radiotherapy treatment for her son - refused to give permission for the procedure, fearing Neon would run the risk of mutism damaging his speech and language.

The 37-year-old New Zealander from Brighton said she wanted
more time to seek fresh opinions from experts around the world.

But in his ruling this afternoon Mr Justice Bodey said Mrs
Roberts, who had gone missing with Neon for four days earlier this month,
had already had sufficient time.

He said the operation should go ahead and it is expected to
be carried out tomorrow.

“Any further delay would be detrimental to Neon’s
prospects,” said the judge.

“I have reflected on the mother’s concerns, and nobody could
fail to sympathise with her and indeed with the father.

“I have weighed up the risk factors attached to surgery and
it’s obvious and known to everybody that all operations carry risks and this is
no exception.

“But putting these risks into the balance I am quite
satisfied surgery is in his best interests and I make the declaration that it
should go ahead.”

A judge at the hearing in the Family Division of the High Court in London on December 8 announced an adjournment until today because of developments in the case.

And lawyers today told the court that Neon might need another operation.

The judge had heard argument about whether Neon, who has had surgery on a brain tumour, should undergo radiotherapy treatment.

Ms Roberts, 37, a New Zealander who lives in Brighton, East Sussex, said she feared radiotherapy would cause Neon long-term harm.

Neon's father Ben, who lives in London and is separated from Ms Roberts, had agreed to radiotherapy but was "apprehensive", the court heard.

Doctors said Neon might die within months without radiotherapy treatment.

The case hit the headlines in early December when Ms Roberts, who was then living in Tiverton, Devon, disappeared with Neon.

The judge was told by lawyers today that Ms Roberts has not consented to Neon undergoing another operation.

They said the judge might have to decide whether further surgery could take place.

A doctor treating Neon said a scan showed that more surgery needed to be carried out "urgently".

He said tests had shown there was "residual tumour" left behind after the first operation.

And he said a second doctor agreed with his analysis.

The doctor said the tumour could spread without surgery.

And he said it was "highly likely" that Neon would die within a "relatively short period" without further treatment.